Windshield wiper blade structure

ABSTRACT

A windshield assembly for a curved windshield, including a pressure distributing superstructure having claws adapted to engage a blade structure at longitudinally spaced positions, together with a blade structure including a flexible holder having a pair of laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of the superstructure, and a longitudinal retention chamber receiving an enlarged retention bead along the upper edge of a resilient wiping element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates primarily to a flexible backing member orholder, sometimes called a flexor, for backing a resilient wipingelement in a windshield wiper apparatus.

In the past, the resilient wiper blade has often been backed by a metalbacking member, though sometimes backing members have been made ofplastic material, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,706,305 and3,629,898. In either event, the backing member and wiping element areusually supported in a superstructure by means of a plurality oflongitudinally spaced claws on the superstructure adapted to engage theedges of the backing member. The superstructure, backing member andwiping element comprise the wiper assembly and is supported for movementon a wiper arm. The claws engage the backing member at lateral edges andwhile there is movement of the backing member longitudinally relative tothe claws, the latter usually engage some abutting means for preventingdisconnection of the backing member from the claws. In order to limitthe backing member against longitudinal movement relative to thesuperstructure, notches or abutments have been provided along lateraledges of the backing member adapted to be releasably engaged by theclaws. While the interconnections described above have operated reliablyin most instances, it will be appreciated that the claws usuallystraddle the backing member, and in order to fit properly, the lateralspacing of the claws must be appropriate to fit the lateral width of thebacking member, and the longitudinal spacing of the claws must beappropriate to fit the longitudinal spacing of interlocking notches orabutments in the backing member. As a result of manufacturing tolerancesand differences in manufacturers' designs, it is sometimes difficult tointerfit one with the other. Thus, a replaceable blade structure fromone manufacturer may not always fit a superstructure of anothermanufacturer.

It would be desirable to provide a universal blade structure which couldbe utilized as a replacement adapted for use with varioussuperstructures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an important object of the present invention to provide auniversal blade structure including a universal backing member having aconstruction adapted to fit various superstructures of differentconfiguration.

A more specific object is to provide an elongate backing member offlexible material adapted to be attached to a superstructure for holdinga resilient wiping element, including a receiver having a longitudinalchamber for a retention bead on a wiping element, a relatively narrowslot opening into the chamber along the bottom of the receiver, a pairof opposed lower flanges extending laterally outwardly on the receiverin opposite directions .[.from the slot.]., and a pair of opposed upperflanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on thereceiver respectively in spaced relation above the lower flanges todefine laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of asuperstructure.

Preferably, the backing member includes a pair of upwardly directedflanges respectively extending along the outer edge of each of the lowerhorizontal flanges in spaced relation outwardly from the edges of theupper horizontal flanges.

In one construction illustrated herein, the longitudinal chamber in thetubular receiver has a cross section of generally triangularconfiguration.

In an alternative embodiment, the receiver is constructed with anadditional pair of opposed laterally outwardly extending flanges ofnarrow width to define additional laterally opening slots for receivingthe claws of a relatively narrow superstructure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blade structureincluding a backing member of the character described, together with aresilient wiping element having a wiping edge, a relatively thin neckportion disposed in the slot of the backing member, and an enlargedretention bead along the upper edge of the wiping element disposed inthe longitudinal chamber of the backing member.

A more comprehensive object of the invention is to provide a windshieldwiper assembly for a curved windshield, including a pressuredistributing superstructure having claws engaging laterally openingslots in the blade structure described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a windshield wiper apparatusembodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, withthe claws of one end of one yoke of the superstructure shown in crosssection;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the blade structure shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, including backing member and wiping element, with theclaw structure omitted;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the backing member illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, with the wiping element and the superstructureomitted;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through an alternative construction ofthe backing member, including a wiping element and one pair of claws atone end of a yoke of the superstructure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through a backing member as illustratedin FIG. 5, showing a pair of claws of a different design ofsuperstructure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a modified backing memberincluding a wiping element and a pair of claws on a yoke of asuperstructure; and

FIG. 8 is a partial end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.1, with the claws of one end of one yoke of the superstructure shown incross-section and in a different position than in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, a superstructure 10includes a primary yoke member or bridge member 12 having a centralportion constructed as at 14 for appropriate attachment to aspring-pressed wiper arm, not shown, and which forms no part of thepresent invention. Opposite ends of the primary yoke member 12 areattached to mid portions of secondary yokes 16 and 18. Thesuperstructure including the primary yoke 12 and the secondary yokes 16and 18 may correspond in general with the construction illustrated inprior U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,530 to John W. Anderson. Preferably, at leastone of the secondary yokes, 18 as .[.shwon.]. .Iadd.shown.Iaddend.therein, is releasably attached to the primary yoke 12, and maybe readily detached upon depression of a release button illustrated at20. Opposite ends of the secondary yokes 16 and 18 are formed with clawsas at 22 engaging an edge of a backing member 24 carrying a wipingelement 26. Outboard ends of the secondary yokes 16 and 18 includedownwardly turned end portions 28 for limiting longitudinal movement ofthe backing member 24 relative to the superstructure, thereby to retainthe blade structure on the superstructure.

A wiper of the type illustrated is adapted for cleaning curved and flatwindshields on moving vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes and thelike. The superstructure, including pressure-distributing yokes 12, 16and 18, transmits pressure from a spring-pressed wiper arm to theflexible backing member 24 and wiping element 26. As a result of thepressure distributed through the yokes, the backing member tends toconform to the general curvature of the windshield. As the wiperassembly is moved back and forth over the windshield, the wiping elementconforms to the constantly changing contours of the windshield.

The backing member 24 is preferably of extruded flexible plasticmaterial such as glass reinforced polycarbonate, and includes a centraltubular portion 30 having a chamber 32 which functions as a receiver fora retaining bead on the wiping element 26. The chamber 32 is somewhattriangular in cross-sectional configuration and a relatively narrow slot34 opens into the chamber along the bottom of the tubular portion 30.The wiping element 26 is preferably made of relatively soft resilientrubber-like material and includes a relatively thin wiping edge 36, athicker intermediate portion 38, a relatively thin neck portion 40 andan enlarged retention bead 42 along the upper edge. In use of theinvention, the wiping element 26 is attached to the backing member 24with the retention bead 42 of the wiping element disposed in thereceiver chamber 32 and with the relatively thin neck portion 40 of thewiping element disposed in the receiver slot 34. As illustrated, theretention bead 42 has a generally triangular cross section which iscomplementary to the receiver chamber 32. The wiping element 26 isattached to the backing member 24 by threading the bead 42 into thereceiver chamber 32 as will be described hereinafter.

As best understood on reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the backing member 24is relatively wide and relatively thin, and includes a pair of opposedrails or flanges 44 extending laterally outwardly in opposite directionsfrom .[.the slot 34 at the bottom of.]. the receiver 30. Preferably,each of the elements 44 is formed along the outside edge with anupwardly directed flange 46 which functions to reinforce or strengthenthe flange 44 along the outer edge so as to add resistance to flexing ofthe backing member 24 in a plane perpendicular to the windshield. Asillustrated, each of the flanges 46 includes an outwardly directed rib47 which is located on the vertical center of gravity of the flexor. Dueto the location of the ribs 47 stiffness is added to the flexor orbacking member in the plane parallel to the windshield but they do notadd stiffness in the plane perpendicular to the windshield. Above theflanges 44, the receiver 30 is formed with outwardly directed flanges 48which are spaced vertically from the flanges 44 and spaced laterallyfrom the flanges 46 in a manner to form openings 49 between flanges 46and the edges of flanges 48 and form slots 50 between flanges 48 and 44for receiving the claws 22 of the secondary yokes 16 and 18. Theupwardly disposed flanges 46 also serve to confine the claws in theslots or grooves 50 by limiting the outward movement of the clawsrelative to the flanges 48. As illustrated, the top of the tubularreceiver 30 is formed with a longitudinal reinforcing rib 52 whichlimits the capacity of the tubular portion to collapse against theretention rib 42 of the flexible wiping member. The rib 52 extendsvertically upward in such a way as to serve as an aid in retention ofthe flexor 24 in the superstructure 10 by engaging the downwardly turnedend portions 28 of the yokes 16 and 18. The openings 49 between theedges of the flanges 48 and the inner walls of the upward flanges 46 arecomputed to be of a size that all known popular style claws will fitinto the openings 49 with their inturned ends in the slots 50 so thatthe minimum size and maximum size claws will either nest up relativeclose to the edges of the flanges 48 or the outside edges of the clawswill engage the insides of the flanges 46, see FIG. 8, respectively. Inany set of conditions the claws will not disengage from the flanges 48.

In assembly of the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1, the backingmember 24 with attached wiping element 26 is attachable to the secondaryyokes 16 and 18 by insertion of the claws 22 of yokes 16, 18 into theslots 50 at the end of the backing member. The claws fit loosely enoughin the slots 50 so that the backing member is slidable relative to theclaws to longitudinally position the backing member properly relative tothe superstructure. When the backing member and the wiping element arepositioned as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rib 52 .[.project.]..Iadd.projects .Iaddend.upwardly from the backing member and.[.engage.]. .Iadd.engages .Iaddend.with the downwardly directed endportions 28 on the ends of the yokes 16 and 18 to limit longitudinalmovement of the backing member relative to the secondary yokes and.[.prevent.]. .Iadd.prevents .Iaddend.removal of the backing member andwiping element from the superstructure. Assembly of the apparatus isfacilitated by disconnecting the secondary yoke 18 from the end of theprimary yoke 12, so that the secondary yoke 16 may be assembled on thebacking member from the left end as viewed in FIG. 1, and the secondaryyoke 18 may be assembled on the backing member from the right end asviewed in FIG. 1, after which the secondary yoke 18 is again attached tothe end of the primary yoke 12.

The wiping element 26 is assembled relative to the backing member 24 bysliding the retention bead 42 into the end of the receiver chamber 32,while the relatively thin neck portion 40 of the wiping member isinserted into the slot 34 in the bottom of the receiver. Preferably,some suitable means is utilized for releasably retaining the wipingmember against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the backingmember so that the parts do not become disassembled unintentionally. Asillustrated herein, the retention bead 42 of the wiping element 26 isformed at opposite ends with an enlarged abutment or stop portion 54adapted to engage the end of the receiver 30. By virtue of the abutment54 at each end of the wiping element, the wiping element is retainedagainst significant unintentional longitudinal displacement relative tothe backing member.

In order to facilitate insertion of the wiping element into the backingmember despite the abutments 54 at opposite ends, the retention bead 42is omitted for a short length adjacent one or both ends to form a gap asillustrated at 56. In assembly, the end portion of the wiping elementadjacent the stop 54 illustrated in FIG. 3 is bent downwardly to exposethe end of the retention bead 42 at the left edge of the gap 56, so thatthe bead may be inserted in the left end of the receiver chamber 32 andmoved toward the right to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. At thistime, the right end portion of the wiper member 26 may be resilientlystretched to insert the remaining end portion of the bead 42, at theright of gap 56, into the right end of the receiver chamber 32. Now,when the stretched wiping element is released, it retracts to theposition shown in FIG. 3. The wiping element may be removed from thebacking member by reversing the procedure.

In use of the backing member as described above, it will be understoodthat so long as the width of the claws 22 is accommodated in the clawreceiving slots 50, the backing member may be used with a variety ofsuperstructures where the claws vary in number and vary in longitudinalpositions, because the continuity of the claw receiving slots does notrestrict the number or location of the claws.

In order to accommodate superstructures in which the face-to-facespacing of each pair of claw constructions is substantially narrower,the backing member may be constructed in an alternative form asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein one pair of claw slots is providedfor relatively widely spaced claws and another pair of claw slots isprovided for relatively closely spaced claws. Referring to FIGS. 5 and6, a backing member 60 includes a central tubular portion 62 with areceiver chamber 64 and a slot 66 opening into the chamber 64 along thebottom of the receiver. A wiping element 68 includes a relatively thinwiping edge 70, a relatively thick intermediate portion 72, a relativelythin neck portion 74 positionable in the slot 66, and an enlargedretention bead as at 76 positionable in the receiver chamber 64.

In order to provide for retention of the backing member 60 onsuperstructures with claws of varying face-to-face width, the backingmember includes a pair of outwardly extending flanges 78 adjacent theslot 66, and a pair of additional flanges 80 spaced above the flanges 78to form claw receiving slots 82 which accept relatively widely spacedclaws 83 on the ends of a yoke 84. Above the flanges 80, the receiver 62is formed with still another pair of outwardly directed flanges 86 whichare narrower than the flanges 80 and provide additional claw receivingslots 88 for receiving the claws 91 of a narrower yoke 90 illustrated inFIG. 6. Preferably, each of the laterally outwardly extending flanges 78includes at the outer edge an upwardly directed reinforcing flange 79.With this construction, it is possible to releasably attach the backingmember 60 to yoke 84 with relatively widely spaced claws 83 asillustrated in FIG. 5, or with claws 91 which are more closely spaced asassociated with yoke 90 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a backing member 92 includes a centralportion 93 of generally triangular cross-sectional configurationincluding a central longitudinal receiver chamber 94 and a slot 96opening into the chamber 94 along the bottom of the receiver. A wipingelement 98 includes a relatively thin wiping edge 100, a relativelythick intermediate portion 102, a relatively thin neck portion 104positionable in the slot 96, and an enlarged retention bead 106 alongthe upper edge positionable in the receiver chamber 94. Flanges 108extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions at the bottom of thereceiver at opposite sides of the slot 96, and upwardly spaced outwardlyextending flanges 110 provide spaces forming slots 112 between flanges108 and 110 for receiving the claws 113 of yoke 114 as illustrated andhaving a cross-sectional configuration conforming closely to thetriangular configuration of the central receiver portion 93. In theconstruction of FIG. 7, like that in FIG. 5, the central portion 93 ofthe backing member closely conforms in shape to the retention bead 106of the wiping element 98, and the end portions of the yokes 114 closelyconforms to the central portion 93 of the backing member 92 in a verycompact arrangement.

We claim:
 1. An elongate backing member adapted to be attached to asuperstructure for holding a flexible windshield wiping element,comprising,a. a tubular receiver having a longitudinal chamber forholding a retention bead on said wiping element, b. the bottom of thereceiver having a relatively narrow longitudinal slot opening into thechamber, c. a pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly inopposite directions from the bottom of the receiver, and d. a secondpair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in oppositedirections on the receiver in vertically spaced relation above saidfirst flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the clawsof a superstructure.
 2. An elongate backing member as defined in claim1, including a third pair of opposed flanges extending laterallyoutwardly in opposite directions on the receiver in vertically spacedrelation above the second pair of flanges and having outer edges ofnarrower width than the outer edges of said second pair of flanges todefine laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of a relativelynarrow superstructure.
 3. An elongate backing member as defined in claim1, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges, each one connected tothe outer edge of one of said first-named flanges and providing anopening between the upwardly directed flanges and the outer edge of oneof said second flanges.
 4. An elongate backing member as defined inclaim 1, wherein the longitudinal chamber in the tubular receiver has across section of generally enlarged configuration.
 5. An elongatesupport member of flexible plastic material adapted to be attached to asuperstructure for holding a resilient windshield wiping element,comprising,a. a tubular receptor having a longitudinal chamber and arelatively narrow slot opening into the chamber along the bottom of thereceptor, b. a pair of opposed lower flanges extending laterallyoutwardly on the receptor in opposite directions from the bottom of thereceptor, c. a pair of upper opposed flanges extending laterallyoutwardly in opposite directions on the receptor respectively in spacedrelation from the lower flanges to define laterally opening slots, andd. a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectively extending along theouter edge of each of said lower flanges in spaced relation outwardlyfrom the edges of said upper flanges, e. said laterally extendingflanges permitting flexibility in a plane perpendicular to a planecontaining said lower flanges and limiting flexibility in said planecontaining said lower flanges.
 6. An elongate support member as definedin claim 5, wherein the longitudinal chamber in the tubular receptor hasa cross section of generally enlarged configuration.
 7. An elongatesupport member as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said upwardlydirected flanges includes a longitudinally extending outwardly directedreinforcing rib.
 8. An elongate blade structure adapted for use in awindshield wiper assembly for a windshield, comprising,a. a flexibletubular holder having a longitudinal chamber and a relatively narrowslot opening into the chamber along the bottom of the holder, b. a pairof opposed lower flanges extending laterally outwardly on the holder inopposite directions from the bottom of the holder, c. a pair of opposedupper flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions onthe holder respectively in spaced relation above the lower flanges todefine laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of asuperstructure, and d. a resilient wiping element having a wiping edge,a relatively thin neck portion disposed in said slot, and an enlargedretention bead along the upper edge disposed in said chamber.
 9. Anelongate blade structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the chamber andretention bead have generally complementary cross sections of generallytriangular configuration.
 10. An elongate blade structure as defined inclaim 8, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectivelyextending along the outer edge of each of said lower flanges in spacedrelation outwardly from the edges of said upper flanges.
 11. An elongateblade structure adapted for use in a windshield wiper assembly for awindshield, comprising a resilient wiping element having a wipingportion, a neck portion and a retention portion, said neck portion beingof narrower lateral width than the wiping and retention portions andconnecting them together, and an integral support member relativelyflexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of thewindshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallel tosaid surface, said support member comprising a pair of longitudinallyelongated planar means spaced apart to define a central opening, atubular receptor integrally joined to said planar means proximate theinner edges thereof, said receptor having a maximum lateral widthgreater than the width of said central opening and being adapted toretain the retention portion of said wiping element, each of said planarmeans having an upwardly extending flange integrally joined to the outeredge thereof, said tubular receptor having on the sides thereofhorizontally extending flanges spaced above said planar means and havingouter edges spaced horizontally from said upwardly extending flanges,said outer edges of said horizontal flanges being adapted to be engagedby claws of superstructure.
 12. A blade element adapted for use in awindshield wiper assembly comprising a pressure distributingsuperstructure adapted to apply downward pressure to the blade elementat spaced locations positioned at the ends and at at least oneintermediate point on the blade element, said superstructure havingclaws adapted to engage the blade element at said spaced locations, saidblade element comprising a resilient wiping element having a wipingportion, a neck portion, and a retention portion, said neck portionbeing of narrower lateral width than the wiping and retention portionsand connecting them together, an integral support member relativelyflexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of thewindshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallel tosaid surface, said support member having a constant cross-sectionalshape over the longitudinal extent thereof, said cross-sectional shapehaving a U-shaped lower portion with a central opening and an upperhollow conduit portion having an opening at the bottom thereof, saidopenings being in communication with each other, the upwardly extendingportions of said U-shaped lower portion being relatively narrow withrespect to the base portion, said upper portion having at the sidesthereof means for engaging said claws and means for maintaining saidresilient wiping member and said integral support member in assembledrelation.
 13. A windshield wiper assembly for a curved windshield,comprising a pressure distributing superstructure having claws adaptedto engage a blade element at spaced locations to apply downward apressure to the blade element at the ends and at intermediate points onthe blade element, said blade element comprising a resilient wipingelement having a wiping portion, a relatively narrow neck portion and arelatively thick retention portion, and an integral support memberrelatively flexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface ofthe windshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallelto said surface, said support member comprising a pair of longitudinallyelongated planar means spaced apart to define a central opening, atubular receptor integrally joined to said planar means proximate theinner edges thereof, said receptor having a maximum lateral widthgreater than the width of said central opening and being adapted toretain the retention portion of said wiping element, said tubularreceptor having on the sides thereof horizontally extending flangesspaced above said planar means and adapted to be engaged by the claws ofsaid superstructure, and means adapted to maintain said wiping elementand the integral support member in assembled relation.
 14. A windshieldwiper assembly for a windshield, comprising,a. a pressure distributingsuperstructure having claws adapted to engage a blade structure atlongitudinally spaced positions, b. a flexible tubular holder having alongitudinal chamber and a relatively narrow slot opening into thechamber along the bottom of the holder, c. a pair of opposed lowerflanges extending laterally outwardly on the holder in oppositedirections from the bottom of said holder, d. a pair of opposed upperflanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on theholder respectively in spaced relation above the lower flanges to definelaterally opening slots for receiving the claws of said superstructure,e. a resilient wiping element having a wiping edge, a relatively thinneck portion disposed in said slot, and an enlarged retention bead alongthe upper edge disposed in said chamber, and f. said laterally extendingflanges maintaining the receptor relatively inflexible in a planeparallel to such flanges, while permitting flexibility transverse tosuch plane.
 15. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 14,including a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectively extendingalong the outer edge of each of said lower flanges in spaced relationoutwardly from the edges of said upper flanges.
 16. A windshield wiperassembly as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said upwardly directedflanges includes a longitudinally extending outwardly directedreinforcing rib.
 17. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 14,wherein a third pair of flanges extend laterally from said receptor invertically spaced relation with said upper flanges to define a secondoutwardly opening pair of slots to receive a different sized pair ofclaws of a superstructure. .Iadd.
 18. An elongate backing member adaptedto be attached to a superstructure for holding a flexible windshieldwiping element, comprising,a. a tubular receiver having a longitudinalchamber for holding a retention bead on said wiping element, b. thebottom of the receiver having a relatively narrow longitudinal slotopening into the chamber, c. a pair of opposed flanges extendinglaterally outwardly in opposite directions from the receiver, and d. asecond pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in oppositedirections on the receiver in vertically spaced relation above saidfirst flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the clawsof a superstructure. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 19. An elongate backing member asdefined in claim 18, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges, eachone connected to the outer edge of one of said first-named flanges andproviding an opening between the upwardly directed flanges and the outeredge of one of said second flanges. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 20. An elongatebacking member as defined in claim 18, wherein the longitudinal chamberin the tubular receiver has a cross section of generally enlargedconfiguration. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 21. An elongate support member as definedin claim 19, wherein each of said upwardly directed flanges includes alongitudinally extending outwardly directed reinforcing rib. .Iaddend.